Metro & Tri-state 5 indicted in airfield probe Gas prices could fall to near $3 by end of year Dad forgives son for wife's murder Southbound Tri-State closed after fatal truck crash Homeless man and woman held in brutal beating Homeless couple charged in S. Loop attack Downed power line snarls traffic on Tri-State Mauled boy learns to walk in Chicago Hero paralyzed saving woman City to spray for mosquitoes on NW Side Man who wanted to be 'popular' indicted for murder Judge admits to drinking but not drunk when driving Pot plants worth $1.2 million found in McHenry Co. Vietnam vet shot to death

STNG Video View more local videos Chicago 24/7 Crime Pot plants worth $1.2 million found in McHenry Co. 5 indicted in airfield probe 4 wounded in 3 South Side shootings Dad forgives son for wife's murder Homeless man and woman held in brutal beating Judge admits to drinking but not drunk when driving Man who wanted to be 'popular' indicted for murder Education Miles Davis' son: 'People fed up' Stave off 'freshman 15' by planning meals, exercise

Sports Sox on Mariotti's split: 'It's about time' Chris De Luca: Word of Jay Mariotti's split with the Chicago Sun-Times reached the White Sox' clubhouse minutes after their victory Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles, and an audible reaction could be heard outside. Once again, Mariotti should've been there to witness it first-hand. Ozzie Guillen -- the top target of the venom-spewing columnist who called for the Sox to fire their manager this season despite the team being in first place -- said his e-mail inbox had a record number of new arrivals by Wednesday afternoon.

Tire to wire? Sox hope not Keep a close eye on left-hander John Danks during the last month of the regular season. The White Sox certainly will be watching closely. After his shortest start since July 20 -- a four-inning stinker in an 11-3 loss Wednesday night to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards -- Danks has reached 160 2/3 innings this season.

Staying healthy is key to final tuneup Players don't like playing it, and coaches don't even like coaching in it. While the third preseason game is considered the tuneup for the regular season, the fourth is simply compulsory. You have to do it. So like it or not, the Bears will show up tonight in Cleveland to face the Browns and do what every NFL team does -- cross its fingers that there are no injuries.

Lifestyles Impress with easy, breezy, end of summer party Rule No. 1 of hosting a party -- let yourself enjoy it. As obvious as this may seem, it's an easy thing to forget. If you're not careful, by the time you finish the planning, the cooking, the decorating, the greeting and the serving, your guests are leaving and you're exhausted. There is a better way; it requires just a little planning, not a lot of money and a willingness to pick your battles.

Fruit-infused vodka chillers Smoky grilled corn Cherry tomato tarts
At Home Interior Affairs: Chinese design, American Style Weather's seedy side brings avalanche Religion An Open Letter from the SIFA African Children’s Choir Mom wants cardinal to quit Horoscopes Holiday Mathis horoscopes for August 27 Georgia Nicols horoscopes for August 27 Astrological questions

Entertainment Rock of Ages: Fests aren't just for the young Moms push strollers through throngs of bare-chested, tattooed twenty-somethings. Dads in khakis dole out fruit drinks while guys sporting mohawks and ripped jeans sip beer. And the grade-schoolers cheer as loudly as the hard-core metalheads. Welcome to the new face of music festivals.
Photos: Faces of festivals List of summer's last outdoor festivals
Books '100 Things' co-author Dave Freeman dies in L.A. Have badge, will dazzle Auster not austere with sharp prose Classical Dinnerstein at unconventional best in recital Stage Seldom 'On a Sunday' does the story ring true 'Weekend' of sex, cash & politics 'Chat' with the Jersey Boys Galleries

Business Healthier food, bottom line for Starbucks? Starbucks is on the brink of rolling out a serious reinvention of its breakfast food. Details of the chain's long-anticipated move into better-for-you food -- so hush-hush that it had its own code name, Morning Source -- will be unveiled Tuesday. It comes as Starbucks' U.S. stores are struggling with drops in traffic and comparable sales growth as many cash-strapped consumers hesitate to shell out $4 for their java fix.

Spuds McCain Gas prices could fall to near $3 by end of year Nuts now arriving at O'Hare Southwest to cut 190 flights, 44 at Midway